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Geoyo Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

Wlan or Wifi

How do people call wireless internet in english speaking countries? I know of two terms, "wifi" and "wlan", and the dictionary lists both, but I have the feeling most people call it "wifi", is that true? An example, when at a hotel reception, would you ask "do you offer wifi?" or "wlan"?
  

Top answer

In the UK I think the usual terms are "Wi-Fi" or "wireless network". I have hardly heard of "wlan".

— GPY

  • In the UK I think the usual terms are "Wi-Fi" or "wireless network".
  • I have hardly heard of "wlan".
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10 Answers
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In the UK I think the usual terms are "Wi-Fi" or "wireless network". I have hardly heard of "wlan".
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Thank you, GPY. So most people in the UK wouldn't understand if you asked them about "wlan" (pronounced w-lan)? In Germany, we exclusively use this term.
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People familiar with computer terminology would understand WLAN, but the majority of people speaking AmE would only know it as WiFi.
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geoyoSo most people in the UK wouldn't understand if you asked them about "wlan" (pronounced w-lan)?
Probably not.
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WLAN = Wireless Local Area Network. That is the generic acronym. WiFi (not an acronym) came later, and refers to a specific technical standard. WiFi rolls off the tongue with much more facility than W-LAN. (LAN is pronounced as written.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi
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AlpheccaStars. WiFi rolls off the tongue with much more facility than W-LAN.
Emotion: yes

I imagi
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Yes that is true AlpheccaStars and fivejedjon, I haven't thought of that Emotion: smile

We pronounce it "vay-lahn" or "vay-lan" and the t
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geoyo"WiFi" is entirely unknown here.
Don't you all have Starbucks?
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I have never been to one, but I just checked their German website, they call it WLAN here Emotion: smile
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